Modern Architecture and Design

Hello friends, We hope you and your loved ones are safe. Due to the current situation, we have decided to postpone our upcoming meetup, co-hosted with Start.io and contentsquare. The safety and well-being of our community come first. We will share a new date as soon as possible and look forward to welcoming you when circumstances allow. Thank you for your understanding, and please stay safe. Best regards, The Aerospike Team ### ***[IMPORTANT NOTICE registration is HERE](https://luma.com/53lk193a)*** Join **Aerospike, Start.io, and Contentsquare** for an evening of deep technical talks and peer-level discussion on the real trade-offs behind operating modern real-time systems in production - where tail latency, throughput predictability, scalability, and cost efficiency are constantly in tension. This event will move past theory and into hard-earned production lessons: scaling beyond RAM constraints, migrating high-throughput workloads from Redis to Aerospike, designing architectures driven by real cloud cost models, and uncovering the non-obvious pitfalls of migrating real-time systems from AWS to GCP. Topics range from VPC architecture and traffic steering differences to NVMe and local SSD behavior, and why familiar operational playbooks often fail across clouds. This event is designed for engineers and architects already running latency-sensitive, high-scale systems - where milliseconds matter, growth is relentless, and infrastructure decisions directly impact performance, reliability, and cost. ​ **Agenda** **​17:30 – 18:00 - Welcome drinks & networking** ​**18:00 – 18:10 - Opening Remarks – Speed vs Capacity: Designing Data Systems for Real-Time Scale** *Oshrat Ben-Avi Zabludovitz, Israel Country Manager, Aerospike ​* **18:10 – 18:30 - Scaling Past RAM: Architecture Lessons from Our Redis-to-Aerospike Migration** *Ilan Huchansky, Data Platform Team Leader, Start. io* ​As Start.io scaled, our legacy Redis-based architecture for the user-profiles database reached significant operational limits, particularly during high-traffic periods, node failures, and scaling events. To maintain our strict performance SLAs while reducing operational overhead, we embarked on a search for a more robust, cost-effective NoSQL solution. In this session, we will share the architectural lessons learned while evaluating the database landscape - including our comparisons with alternatives - and our ultimate migration to Aerospike’s Hybrid Memory Architecture. We’ll discuss how we moved past RAM constraints to achieve sub-millisecond performance at massive scale without compromising on availability or data consistency. ​ **18:30 – 18:50 - Boosting Cost Efficiency with Cost-Aware Architecture** *Doron Hoffman, Chief Architect, Contentsquare* ​ In this session, we explore the critical role of cost-aware architecture in achieving optimal cost efficiency for modern software systems. As organizations increasingly rely on cloud services, microservices, and distributed computing, understanding and managing costs becomes paramount. ​We’ll discuss the shift from traditional architecture to cost-aware design and examine how architectural decisions directly impact operational expenses. Through a real-world example, we’ll share lessons learned from evaluating multiple cloud providers and their services using cost models and how rearchitecting with cost as a first-class concern made a measurable difference. ​Attendees will gain practical insights into designing cost-efficient systems that balance performance, scalability, and financial constraints, enabling more sustainable growth. ​ **18:50 – 19:10 - The Latency Leap: Hard Lessons in Migrating Real-Time Systems from AWS to GCP** *David Gerchikov, Senior Software Engineer, Aerospike* ​ Moving a stable web application between clouds is challenging; migrating a high-throughput, real-time system is far more delicate. When heartbeats are measured in milliseconds, the “invisible” differences between AWS and GCP—from VPC architecture to NVMe and local SSD behavior—can determine whether a migration succeeds or fails. ​This session goes beyond basic service mapping to explore the real friction points of moving a real-time engine from AWS’s regional model to Google Cloud’s global fabric. We’ll cover networking and traffic-steering gotchas, why AWS operational playbooks often don’t translate, and how storage lifecycle constraints in GCP Local SSDs force changes in node management to preserve predictable performance and reliability. ​ **19:10 – 20:30 - Drinks & networking** ***IMPORTANT NOTICE - event is postponed***

בסדנה נכיר את העקרונות הבסיסיים של תחום הריתוך, נתנסה בעבודה עם כלי העבודה השונים, נחשף לסוגי הריתוך השונים ותצברו ידע שיסייע לכם להבין את התהליך ואת טכניקות העבודה הנדרשות. עלות: 240 ש"ח למבוגר/ת. לתושבי יהוד-מונוסון: 190 ש"ח למבוגר/ת. שימו לב: לא מספיק להרשם פה, יש להרשם גם בקישור הבא [https://www.makelab.org.il/registration/welding](https://www.makelab.org.il/registration/welding)

Tired of feature pipelines that: • break silently in production? • suffer from training–serving skew? • take hours to rebuild from scratch? • keep data scientists dependent on data engineering for every change? In this 3-session **hands-on paid course**, you’ll learn how to use **dbt** to build robust, incremental, production-grade feature pipelines for machine learning — using real e-commerce data. *** **🚨 Important – This is a PAID course & registration is via Google Form** **RSVP on Meetup does not count as registration.** To apply and secure your spot, you **must** fill out this form: 👉 https://forms.gle/Tf9BzYiq3esVpn3D7 Payment, syllabus and selection details are all in the form. All instruction is volunteer-based, and **all proceeds go to support DataHack’s nonprofit programs advancing diversity and inclusion in AI & data science in Israel.** *** **🧠 Who is this for?** • Data Scientists • ML Engineers • Backend Developers working closely with data/ML …who want to **own their feature engineering end-to-end** – from raw data to production-ready features. **Prerequisites:** • Comfortable with SQL • Basic familiarity with ML concepts (features, training/serving, etc.) *** **🔧 What you’ll learn (hands-on)** Over **3 evenings** with a **100K+ row e-commerce dataset**, you’ll: • Build layered, incremental dbt models for ML feature pipelines • Handle late-arriving data and slowly changing dimensions • Add data quality tests and avoid silent failures • Write reusable macros and use patterns you can take straight to production • Connect the dots from raw events → features → production serving By the end, you’ll have a **complete, tested feature pipeline** plus the skills to replicate the pattern in your own company. *** **📅 When & Where** • **Dates:** Wednesdays – 16.3, 23.3, 30.3.2026 • **Session length:** \~2.5–3 hours each • **Location:** Check Point offices, Shlomo Kaplan 5, Tel Aviv • **Food:** Pizza’s on us 🍕 *** **💸 Cost & Invoicing** • This is a **paid 3-session course**. • We strongly encourage **employers to cover the cost** as part of your professional development. • Full pricing and payment details are available in the registration form. Again: **Meetup RSVP is only for interest tracking. It does not reserve a seat.** To actually join the course, fill out the form here: 👉 https://forms.gle/Tf9BzYiq3esVpn3D7 *** **👋 Who’s teaching?** The course is led by **Yuval Gorchover**, Head of AI/ML Engineering at **Voyantis**, and **Amihai Offenbacher**, a Data Scientist at Voyantis , bringing real-world, production ML experience into the classroom. *** **Ready to take control of your feature pipelines?** Apply now via the form and we’ll be in touch with next steps: 👉 https://forms.gle/Tf9BzYiq3esVpn3D7

TAMI open-fa-sure (Open Night) is a great time to visit the space and get to know how things work. If you want to double check whether someone is in the space, call 03-3726660. ========== TAMI wiki: [https://telavivmakers.org](https://telavivmakers.org) TAMI main Telegram channel: [https://t.me/+0t5M0-jK9iIwZmM8](https://t.me/+0t5M0-jK9iIwZmM8)

באו לתקן כל מה שלא עובד. יותר טוב אם [צרו איתנו](https://docs.telavivmakers.space/welcome) קשר וספרו לנו מה הולכים לתקן ךפני להגיע. Come to fix together It is much better if you [contact us](https://docs.telavivmakers.space/welcome) and tell what do you want to repair before coming.

לצפייה במפגשים הקודמים: [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLWYO6ItABnqsaUHKt7BXFaZyc319UOHDp](https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLWYO6ItABnqsaUHKt7BXFaZyc319UOHDp) יום שני נפגשים בשרונה להמשיך לקרוא יחדיו ולנהל דיון על הספר: **The Ominous Parallels** נכתב על ידי לאונרד פיקוף ויצא לאור בשנת 1982. הספר סוקר את התרבות והאקלים הפילוסופי בגרמניה שהוביל לעליית הנאציזם ולשואה. הספר מציג כיצד תהליכים תרבותיים ופילוסופים דומים מתחוללים בארה״ב ובמערב. את הספר נקרא באנגלית והדיון יתקיים בעברית. את המפגש יוביל אייר רייכל, עמית מרכז איין ראנד בישראל ההשתפות כרוכה בתרומה למרכז איין ראנד בישראל. 20 ש"ח למפגש. חינם: למשתתפים שתורמים תרומה קבועה של 50 ש"ח ומעלה בחודש. [קישור לתרומה](https://www.aynrand.org.il/donate) מלאי ספרים לרכישה אמור להגיע בקרוב. מיקום: וויוורק שרונה מרקט הוראות כניסה: יש להיכנס בכניסה א' של שרונה מרקט, מול מסעדת "מקסיקנה" יש דלת לחדר מדרגות, יש לעלות לקומה ה3 ולצלצל לפתיחת הדלת לאייר רייכל 050-5210025. למגיעים ברכב, חניה מומלצת ב"חניון פלטיניום" (מופיע בוייז). או בחניון "מילניום" (שקצת רחוק יותר) ב10 ש"ח עם אפליקציית סנטרל פארק. לתיאום הגעה בפעם הראשונה ולמתלבטים ניתן ליצור קשר עם אייר בטלפון ובוואטסאפ 050-5210025

**[Binder & Partners Ltd.](https://www.linkedin.com/company/binder-and-partners-ltd/)** Family Office and **[PwC](https://www.linkedin.com/company/pwc/)** are thrilled to invite you to their conference: “**Startup Financing Trends in Israel: 2025 Review & 2026 Forecast**” 📅 Date: March 16th at 17.30 📍 Location: Herzog Tower\, 6 Yitzhak Sadeh St\.\, Tel Aviv \| 2nd Floor What to Expect: \- Opening speech by **[Tal Naor](https://www.linkedin.com/in/tal-naor-06b6a5168/), [Yaron Weizenbluth](https://www.linkedin.com/in/yaron-weizenbluth-7773a48/), [Daniel Kaczelnik](https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-kaczelnik-245404193/), [Jonas Binder](https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonas-binder-8458b5107/)**, and **[Raphael Meyara](https://www.linkedin.com/in/raphael-meyara-06925813/).** \- An exclusive 1\-on\-1 interview with **[Matan Cohen](https://www.linkedin.com/in/matan-co/)**, former CEO and Co-Founder of **[Doti.AI](https://www.linkedin.com/company/doti-ai/),** acquired by Salesforce in just 2.5 years \- A high\-level panel discussion featuring leading VCs\, including **[Reut Yehuda Golan](https://www.linkedin.com/in/reut-yehuda-golan-6b269a29/)** at **[Qumra Capital](https://www.linkedin.com/company/qumra-capital/)**, **[Lidor Sigron](https://www.linkedin.com/in/lidorsigron/)** at **[Red Dot Capital Partners](https://www.linkedin.com/company/red-dot-capital-partners/)**, **[Dov Rozenberg](https://www.linkedin.com/in/dov-rozenberg-33ba8319/)** at **[O.G. Venture Partners](https://www.linkedin.com/company/o-g-venture-partners/)**, **[Ran Dagan](https://www.linkedin.com/in/ran-dagan-89b3454/)** at **[Essentia Venture Capital](https://www.linkedin.com/company/essentia-venture-capital/)**, and **[Nir Adler](https://www.linkedin.com/in/nir-adler-965b46a4/)** at **[State of Mind Ventures (SOMV)](https://www.linkedin.com/company/state-of-mind-ventures/)** Together, we’ll dive into the key takeaways from 2025 and explore strategic insights and predictions for 2026. Spots are limited—RSVP to secure your place: **[https://lnkd.in/dqFQEPbG](https://lnkd.in/dqFQEPbG)**

## 🎯 Masterclass for Beginners: Automate Everything: Build Powerful Workflows with n8n (No Code, Big Impact) 🚀 Want to save hours of work every week by automating the tasks you hate? Tired of doing the same actions manually, emails, spreadsheets, notifications, CRM updates, again and again? It’s time to discover **n8n**, the most flexible no-code automation tool used by smart entrepreneurs, growth hackers, and modern teams to work faster and smarter. Join our exclusive Masterclass: **“Automate Everything with n8n”**, a practical and beginner-friendly workshop that will show you how to build real automations — even if you’ve never written a line of code. 💡 This hands-on session is designed to help you *understand, build and launch* your first automations in minutes, not months. ### You’ll learn how to: ⚙️ **Build your first n8n workflow from scratch** — live, step by step 🔗 **Connect your favorite apps** (Gmail, Notion, HubSpot, Telegram, Airtable, Typeform…) 🤖 **Use AI inside n8n** to generate text, classify data, and automate decision-making 📊 **Collect and transform data** automatically without coding 💬 **Send automated messages** on WhatsApp/Telegram/Slack ⚡ **Create powerful business automations** used by real companies 🧠 **Think like an automation designer**: triggers, logic, conditions, loops 💼 **Apply n8n to real use cases**: sales, marketing, operations, customer service… By the end of the workshop, you’ll have a complete automation running — and the skills to build many more. 📅 **When:** March 17th, 2026 at 5:30pm 📍 **Where:** Developers.Institute Campus, Bezalel 8, Ramat Gan 🔥 Be ready to transform the way you work — forever. ✅ Reserve your spot now → [https://developersinstitute.typeform.com/open-day](https://developersinstitute.typeform.com/open-day)

בשני מפגשים נלמד לבנות תהליכים אוטומטיים חכמים שמחליפים עבודה ידנית חוזרת: חיבורים בין כלים, קבלת החלטות פשוטות, טיפול במצבים לא צפויים ושילוב בינה מלאכותית, כשצריך. נתחיל מהבסיס - איך חושבים אוטומציה נכון, איך מחברים שירותים שונים ואיך גורמים לזרימה “להבין” מה לעשות בכל מצב. נמשיך לעבודה עם מידע אמיתי, תגובות ממערכות חיצוניות ובניית תהליכים מורכבים שעובדים לבד מקצה לקצה. הסדנה מעשית, בהירה ומתאימה גם לכל מי שמעולם לא בנה/תה אוטומציה אבל רוצה לצאת עם יכולת אמיתית לבנות סוכנים שעובדים במקומו/ה. למבוגרים/ות (16+). לא נדרש ידע מוקדם. עלות: 500 ש"ח (ליחיד/ה) תושב חוץ, 450 ש"ח (ליחיד/ה) תושב יהוד שימו לב: לא מספיק להרשם במיטאפ יש להרשם גם בקישור הבא , שם תמצאו גם פרטים נוספים https://link.makelab.org.il/n8n

במהלך הסדנה נלמד טכניקות מתקדמות של עיבוד גבס פולימרי, חומר קל לעבודה שמאפשר יצירה גמישה ומדויקת; נבין כיצד ליצור דפוסים מרהיבים ומרקמים עשירים וייחודיים, בסגנון קלאסי ועדכני כאחד; נלמד באילו תבניות ניתן לעבוד ונתנסה בהכנת תוצרים דמויי טראצו ודמוי שיש בעזרת החומר. למבוגרים ונוער (16+). עלות: 250 ש”ח ליחיד/ה. לתושבי יהוד-מונוסון – 200 ש”ח ליחיד/ה. שימו לב: לא מספיק להרשם במיטאפ יש להרשם גם בקישור הבא , שם תמצאו גם פרטים נוספים https://link.makelab.org.il/Terrazzo

**Founders Running Club** (FRC) brings founders, investors, tech, creative people and startup enthusiasts together for weekly easy runs and networking. We like to be comfortable when we run and finish with coffee and conversations. Choose your pace or follow a pacer—pets, friends, family, are welcome. Join locall Tel-Aviv chat with all news and updates https://chat.whatsapp.com/IWWgu9DznjzLvMe8p6cVCu?mode=ac_t For any questions pleae contact Tel-Aviv city leaders: Lev +972 55-7704496 Ilia +972535007183 Nastya +972533838320 Dan +972537162316 More about FRC global: 🗓️ Launched in San Francisco, July 16, 2022 🌍 Now in 35+ cities 📅 Running + Networking events + Community **Join the community** [http://foundersrc.com/chats](http://foundersrc.com/chats) **Stay updated**: Instagram [http://instagram.com/foundersrc/](http://instagram.com/foundersrc/) LinkedIn [http://linkedin.com/company/foundersrc/](http://linkedin.com/company/foundersrc/) Podcast [http://podcast.foundersrc.com/](http://podcast.foundersrc.com/) Strava [http://strava.com/clubs/foundersRC](http://strava.com/clubs/foundersRC) Website [http://foundersrc.com/](http://foundersrc.com/)

**TAMI Sonic (Music Night)** Join our bi-weekly informal meetups devoted to playing and experimenting with sound. ========== TAMI wiki: [https://telavivmakers.org](https://telavivmakers.org) TAMI main Telegram channel: [https://t.me/+0t5M0-jK9iIwZmM8](https://t.me/+0t5M0-jK9iIwZmM8)

Join us in the search for the true, the good and the beautiful. We will be reading and discussing a fascinating philosophical text in English. Welcome anyone interested in understanding life more deeply, regardless of age or prior knowledge. The love of wisdom is enough. Please join our WhatsApp group: https://chat.whatsapp.com/CDjIJ8i1LZsJ2a7WJXFxhG?mode=wwt Sapere Aude! (Kant's Motto: Dare to Think!)

**TAMI Hacking Nights** \- join TAMI CTF team and practice challenges and CTFs with us \- share your knowledge about ethical hacking techniques and tools \- bring some device to reverse engineer it and explore how it works \- propose a bug bounty program to work on together \- just watch and learn from others The meetings are informal and open to all levels - from total beginners to hardcore CTF veterans. Join our HackaTAMI Telegram channel ([https://t.me/+KAXY_iPcPlpmZTRk](https://t.me/+KAXY_iPcPlpmZTRk)) to discuss what we will do this Tuesday and come to TAMI. ========== TAMI wiki: [https://telavivmakers.org](https://telavivmakers.org) TAMI main Telegram channel: [https://t.me/+0t5M0-jK9iIwZmM8](https://t.me/+0t5M0-jK9iIwZmM8)

**April 4, 2026 will be the last Dulles Code & Coffee event at BTI360.** Dulles Code & Coffee is a collaborative community of software and technology enthusiasts seeking to learn, grow, and help each other. All skill levels are welcome. The concept is simple. Bring a laptop and ideas. We’ll provide coffee, tea, and donuts. Thank you to [BTI360](https://www.bti360.com/) for sponsoring this event. ## **Event Format** 1. At 9:15 everyone introduces themselves and briefly describes what brought them out this morning (project, homework, networking, etc.). 2. For the rest of the day folks work in the communal space, socializing and asking/giving help as desired. ## **Location** BTI360’s Office in Herndon The office is across from Worldgate, looking down on the toll road. ## **Address** 12930 Worldgate Dr, Ste 400, Herndon, VA 20170 [[map](https://goo.gl/maps/pF5ZrPUviX1vtmdSA)] ## **Logistics** * **Must be a U.S. Citizen to attend. Real ID verification is required. With updated security protocols, foreign nationals are unable to attend.** * PARKING: Use the surface lot. All spaces marked MIII are open for parking. Please avoid Management spaces, State Farm and SP+ * ARRIVAL: Follow the signs from the front entrance to the freight elevator located in the parking garage on level P2. Take the elevator to Suite 400 (Floor 4). * How to find us video: [https://youtu.be/ohqFzyqiASE](https://youtu.be/ohqFzyqiASE) ## **Community Guidelines** We value the participation of each member of the community and want all attendees to have an enjoyable and fulfilling experience. To ensure a conducive environment, all participants are required to conform to our [code of conduct](https://github.com/DullesCodeCoffee/.github/blob/main/code-of-conduct.md).

Please join us for our Annual Open House at the Studio on March 21st from 1lam to 4pm. Enjoy light drinks, small bites, and a relaxed stroll through the studio. As we step into our 5th year at this location, we'd love for you to stop by & celebrate with us. This is a drop-in event from llam-4pm

Whether you're new to Insight meditation or an advanced practitioner looking for like-minded people to sit with, you're welcome to join us at our Sunday morning drop-in group, sponsored by the Insight Meditation Community of Washington. Insight meditation cultivates our natural wisdom and compassion. Meditation practice develops concentration, which allows us to calm and steady the mind. This class includes a 30-minute lightly-guided meditation, followed by a short talk and time for questions and discussion. The size of the group usually runs somewhere between 25-40 people in-person and between 12-25 online. Chairs are provided, or you may bring a sitting cushion or bench. You may also use the blankets and bolsters offered by the yoga studio. **We offer both in-person and online attendance.** To learn more about our topics and teachers, view our videos or **get the Zoom link**, visit our [class page](https://imcw.org/event/?eventId=735&utm_source=MeetUp&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=vienna-drop-in).

Let’s hang out and journal together, trade stationary and stickers, and have a good time! Please note, we do not have a reservation, so we will do our best to find some good spots when we get there.

Members of the public are invited to view the wonders of the universe through the telescopes of NOVAC volunteers at the Smithsonian's Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, VA. You do not need to be a member of the club or own any astronomical equipment to attend. Telescopes will be provided by the Smithsonian and pre-approved members of the NOVAC. No other personal telescopes are permitted at the event. The event will take place on the bus parking lot of the museum. **Please park your vehicle at the south end of the main visitors lot and follow signs and red lights to the observing site. As a reminder, parking during the event is free.** Have a cosmic question? One of NOVAC's astronomers or museum staff will be happy to help you. As the sky gets dark, be prepared to enjoy the wonders of the night sky! Don't forget to dress warmly. Please check the weather forecast. For lighting, cover a flashlight in red cellophane (the darker the better). Bring along water to keep hydrated. Note: This outdoor event is weather-dependent and may be cancelled because of significant cloud cover or precipitation.

MoCo Code and Coffee is an inclusive, informal, co-working session. We're community-led and community-run by devs, for devs. People of all skill levels are invited. Especially new devs! Bring a laptop, ideas, and we'll provide the coffee and snacks. **Here's how it works** At 2:30pm, everyone introduces themselves and briefly mention what brought them to Code & Coffee today (project, homework, networking, etc.) Round 1: 1. Your name 2. What you're working on 3. What you can help others with Round 2: * Job opportunities you're hiring for OR announce that you are looking for one. If none, that's cool. Round 3: * Community events you wanna plug. If none, that's cool too. **After the introduction circle, everything is self-organized!** 1. For the rest of the day, folks work on their projects, providing one another with help, and/or socialize. It's fully up to you. **Location** We will be at the Rockville Science Center, right across from the library in The Square at Rockville. Note this is NOT the makerspace location, but the other one near the Garage B entrance. 36 Maryland Ave C, Rockville, MD 20850 The event will be held at a spacious science center with plenty of tables and chairs. Light refreshments (coffee and tea) and snacks will be provided. **Parking** * Rockville Town Square garages have up to 90 minutes of free parking. Parking at the Rockville Metro station would be free on weekends. **Public transit** * Located near near the **Rockville** metro station (Red Line).

[Profs and Pints Northern Virginia](https://www.profsandpints.com/washingtondc) presents: **“The Secrets of Runes,”** on the origins, development, and interpretation of the runic script, with Lilla Kopár, runologist and a professor of medieval literature and culture at Catholic University. [Advance tickets: $13.50 plus sales tax and processing fees. Available at [https://events.ticketleap.com/tickets/profsandpints/nv-rune-secrets](https://events.ticketleap.com/tickets/profsandpints/nv-rune-secrets) .] The fame of runes outshines that of any other ancient script. They can be found not just on Viking Age rune stones, but on Bilbo’s door and as the Bluetooth logo on your cell phone. Runic script is commonly associated with magic, used by modern practitioners of neopaganism, and in recent decades has captured the imagination of filmmakers and video game designers. Yet most of us know little about the historical origins of runes and have no clue how to read or use them. Come to Crooked Run Fermentation in Sterling, Va., to get schooled on runic script with the help of Lilla Kopár, a veteran scholar of runes who has earned a following among Profs and Pints fans by giving fantastic talks on medieval monsters and Norse mythology. As someone who has carried out extensive field research on runes, published several articles on runic objects, and even appeared on the History Channel commenting on runes in America, she’s exceptionally qualified to introduce you to runology and the fascinating things that runes tell us. Dr Kopár will discuss the development of runic script from its humble origins on the borders of the Roman Empire in the first or second century CE, through its popularity in the Viking world, to its use and misuse in modern times. She’ll discuss how runes are a set of related alphabets that underwent changes over time and she’ll describe what inspired changes in this writing system and where and how runes were used in the medieval period. Her richly illustrated talk will highlight some of the most intriguing objects with runic inscriptions, from humble bone fragments to impressive rune stones, and offer insight into the scholarly methods of deciphering and interpreting runic inscriptions. We’ll also look at the function of the runic script from simple practical notes and memorial inscriptions to cipher-runes and magic. The most fun might be the in-class assignment, which will involve reading a few runic inscriptions and writing your name and other words in runes. (Doors: $17, or $15 with a student ID. Listed time is for doors. Talk starts 30 minutes later.) Image: Part of Codex runicus, a rune manuscript written on animal skin and dating to about 1300 (University of Copenhagen / Wikimedia Commons).